Archive for the ‘Inspirational Individuals’ Category
Tzedakah Starstruck
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010Some people like to tour LA with a map of the homes of Hollywood stars and gawk at them from the side of the street. Other people spend their summer vacations on the professional sports circuit, following their favorite baseball team from city to city, stadium to stadium. Heck, there’s even people that will pay good money to spend a week cruising the Caribbean with the members of R.E.O. Speedwagon! But it turns out there is another kind of creature, a charity-head: someone who travels to the other side of the world to be inspired by Mitzvah superstars.
The Saddest Day
Monday, April 12th, 2010So many books have been written, so many movies have been made. What can I possibly say about the Genocide that hasn’t been already said six million times? Maybe it’s better not to add my voice to the chorus. Only today it’s more of a maelstrom of voices. Because by talking so much about the Holocaust, and insisting upon its singularity, we’ve made it the brand-name of national massacres. Now when anyone searches for a verbal term that has the raw power to shock and awe, they instantly click on the link “Nazi”. And what’s even sadder than watering down the suffering of my grandparents is comparing their descendants to the vile perpetrators of the carnage. Because wanton words of mass destruction can be a double-edged sword.
More Money & He Knows What To Do With It
Thursday, April 8th, 2010After last week’s Passover-themed blog link to a “TED Talk” video about slavery and freedom, I started digging deeper into the TED.com archives. I thought that perhaps some other intellectual heavyweight or prodigious activist had spoken from that podium about philanthropy, how private citizens like ourselves can change the world by redistributing our wealth. A simple string search turned up a talk by the world’s second richest man, William Gates III, on how he feels that his donor dollars would best be spent. With a net worth of fifty-three billion dollars and climbing, I’d sure like to know who’s cashing in his charity cheques!
How To Combat Modern Slavery
Sunday, April 4th, 2010In the last blog entry, in the spirit of Passover, I entreated us all to think long and hard about the full extent of the slave trade in the world today, and how we might increase freedom for all living beings, at home and abroad. After I hit the “publish button”, I took my own advice to heart and did some additional research on the issue, and came upon some excellent resources. So if I inspired you to delve deeper into the topic of bondage and abolition, I highly recommend the following TED Talk, How To Combat Modern Slavery.
From Hospital Bedside to Organizational Hero
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Ezer Mizion – which runs the critical International Jewish Bone Marrow Registry shares the moving story of its roots. Learn how one man created an organization that today serves over 650,000 people with food, medical needs and more…
Tikkun Olam 2.0 – An Introduction to Online Fundraising
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
Participant Gayle Shimoff of Partners with Parents blogs about her decision to attend the JGooders online fundraising seminar, what she learned and how she will implement her new-found knowledge and connections…
30 Years of Orr Shalom
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
This year, Orr Shalom celebrates its 30th birthday. During that time, it has become Israel’s largest organization providing homes for children and youth who have been removed from their homes by the social welfare services following severe abuse or neglect. The organization cares for over 1,300 in a wide-range of activities…
Jewish and Israeli Responses to Haiti – Inspirational for All
Monday, February 1st, 2010
The global response to the tragedy in Haiti has been tremendously moving and reflects the incredible power humankind has when working together. From individual responsibility, together we have created an unprecedented communal response. No one can be prouder than the Jewish and Israeli communities – from the much-lauded field hospitals, to the millions raised by NGOs – even the media has highlighted our impressive work…
